I'll bet Afghans are going to be happy when they see this:

[unhappycamper]

Half a Million Displaced Iraqis Face Grim Future In Squalid Squatter Camps
May 27, 2010 |

The alarming spread of illegal squatter settlements has aid groups fearful of a looming social crisis, one which a senior United Nations official considers "the greatest humanitarian problem facing Iraq."

Recent reports from two international agencies found that of Iraq's 1.5 million internally displaced people, or IDPs, at least 500,000 have been forced to dwell in squalid squatter camps without access to health care or public services.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, has recorded a sharp increase in squatters since 2009, and activists are demanding the United States and UN stem the problem before it surges out of control.

"We registered 160,000 in Baghdad a year ago and this March the number was up to 260,000. This is only for Baghdad, we haven't published figures for the whole country yet but it's at least up from 400,000 to 500,000 for the time being," Daniel Endres, Iraq representative of UNHCR, said.

Interviews by IWPR confirmed the rising numbers of squatter settlements and found that conditions in the camps continue to deteriorate as numbers swell. Although IDPs who fled their homes due to war and sectarian conflict have long been a problem in Iraq, many who spoke to IWPR said they had sheltered in camps due to extreme poverty and joblessness.



unhappycamper comment: This is just one of the bad things we (the United States government) have done to the Iraqis.

[stray cat]

1. And yet we have no responsibility to try to help but should just leave

and let them kill each other

[Catherina]

4. Yes, yes fucking leave! Who the fuck asked the US to come *help*?

By your reasoning, the Taliban should come take over the US to prevent women and children from getting raped. Read up on hw the Taliban got support from the people before spouting off choreographed pro-war taslking points.

Nobody asked the US to come *save them*. Nobody is that stupid anymore.

[jonnyblitz]

6. then why don't you go over there and help them, sparky?

we sure will miss you here if you do!!11 :cry:

[1776Forever]

2. Where is the oil money going? Anyone know? n/t

[unhappycamper]

3. Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, BAE, Xe, Triple Canopy. etc.

[1776Forever]

5. So why aren't we having "Congressional hearings" on that? This should go to the rebuilding of Iraq!

Haven't these thieves foraged our treasury enough, let alone the pillage of these impoverished people! They have no shame! I wish someone would ask Cheney about this! I bet he had a lot to do with it in those early 2000 meetings with the oil industry, etc.:grr:

[madrchsod]

8. there is no oil money...

the oil fields in iraq are basically worthless at this time. the machines,pipes,and point of delivery stations have to be rebuilt. at the time of bush declared war on iraq there were estimates that it would cost 100 billion dollars to bring the fields up to production levels before the first gulf war.

[madrchsod]

7. we have been at war with the iraqi people since 1990

since 1980 iraq has had war waged against them for 28 yrs.

at one time the most advanced country in the entire middle east has been reduced to a third world country. this was the iraqi people`s punishment for not following the carter-reagan doctrine.